Sep 12 2016
Expanding its suite of next generation ultrasound transducers based on semiconductor technologies, Kolo Medical announced today that it will introduce three new SiliconWave™ transducers at the 2016 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS) in Tours, France, September 18-21, 2016. SiliconWave transducers, designed to deliver an unprecedented level of performance in the areas of ultra-high resolution imaging, offer the first-ever practical alternative to traditional PZT ultrasound transducers.
Kolo Medical is dedicated to providing a full suite of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers for medical ultrasound imaging by leveraging advanced semiconductor technology and the most advanced transducer technology. Compatible with existing and next generation ultrasound systems, the proprietary SiliconWave transducer technology delivers an unprecedented level of performance in the area of ultra-high resolution and ultra-wide bandwidth imaging for such applications as Thyroid, Breast, Small Parts, Musculoskeletal, Vascular, and Dermal imaging.
Kolo Medical is working with several OEM partners to test SiliconWave transducers with commercial ultrasound systems. "This provides an opportunity to evaluate our advanced semiconductor technology for use in clinical imaging as well as its current use in research and academic institutions," said Dr. Yongli Huang, President of Kolo Medical. "We expect these evaluations will confirm the ability of SiliconWave technology to deliver a new standard of diagnostic imaging. With our OEM partners, we are developing this higher level of performance with a joint goal of improving patient outcomes."
Lauren Pflugrath, CEO of Verasonics, said "We have evaluated Kolo's new 30 MHz CMUT transducer on the Verasonics Vantage high frequency system. The images we have been able to produce of laboratory animals and superficial structures are very impressive. We think this technology will be very interesting to researchers involved with high frequency ultrasound."
Kolo Medical will showcase its three new SiliconWave transducers at the IUS meeting (Booth #23):
The new L38-22 linear array transducer with a center frequency of 30MHz enables high performance superficial imaging in the emerging application of Dermatology and can also be used to image superficial tendons and nerves as well as joints of the wrist, hands, and feet.
The M17-4 1.5D array transducer with a 120% bandwidth and frequencies from 4-17 MHz is the ultrasound industry's first single-probe solution. With this frequency range, the M17-4 is able to replace multiple linear array transducers for imaging Small Parts to deep Vascular applications. The new M17-4 single-probe solution transducer is based on the Kolo SiliconMatrix™ technology and can deliver unprecedented imaging performance.
The new L30-14 linear array transducer can be used for Neonatal, Pediatric, and MSK applications. The L30-14 transducer has a center frequency of 22 MHz.
In addition, Kolo will showcase two improved SiliconWave transducers:
The L22-8 linear array transducer is designed for MSK and Small Parts imaging. Centered at 15MHz, this transducer has improved spatial resolution with excellent penetration when compared with PZT transducers.
The L15-5 linear array transducer with a center frequency of 10MHz, is designed for Vascular, Small Parts, and deep MSK imaging.
These transducer arrays resemble tiny silicon drums, each smaller than the width of a human hair, that are fabricated on a silicon wafer and incorporated into the transducer giving superior acoustic response that forms the basis for better ultrasound images. The technology used in SiliconWave transducers overcomes the fabrication limitations of bulk piezoelectric transducers. High-frequency, high-resolution transducers are potentially easier to fabricate with SiliconWave technology making ultrasound available for a wider range of applications.
The development of CMUT technology was initiated many years ago by a team at Stanford University that included the Kolo Medical founders. As the result of Kolo's years of independent research and development, our SiliconWave transducers offer designs that overcome many initial CMUT limitations such as sensitivity. SiliconWave transducers are fabricated in a commercial MEMS foundry, leveraging advanced semiconductor fabrication technology such as photolithography and thin-film deposition and etching. With the ability to control the vertical geometries of the transducer, such as thin-film thickness with nanometer accuracy, Kolo attains sub-micrometer lateral resolution with ease. Combining the power of innovative designs and superb fabrication capabilities, the Kolo SiliconWave transducers are proven to reach unprecedented yield, uniformity, and performance standards.